The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko took place at the Kremlin Palace. Putin awarded Lukashenko with the Order of Saint Andrew, the highest state order in the country which was first given during the reign of Russian Tsar Peter the Great. During the meeting with delegations at the Kremlin, Putin highlighted the rapidly developing trade and economic relations between the two countries, stating that “Our trade volume reaches $46.5 billion according to our statistics.” He also noted the ongoing efforts to enhance industrial cooperation and collaborate in the agricultural sector, mentioning their active involvement in microelectronics over the past year and a half. Putin emphasized that new opportunities were emerging in the aircraft industry as well. Referring to the historical ties, Putin recalled how Belarus had been referred to as the “assembly workshop of the Soviet Union” since Soviet times, highlighting the country’s advantages in the economy and industrial production. Lukashenko, on the other hand, addressed the ineffective pressure exerted by the West on Belarus and Russia, stating that “In terms of our relationship with Russia, I believe the most important result is that despite the West’s plans to suffocate us, particularly in the economic and financial fields, they have not succeeded. They themselves admit it.” He mentioned their collaboration with Moscow in various fields and noted that Russia needs Belarusian products ranging from agriculture to microelectronic goods.